The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-06-23

This is the basic principle of
Indeed, it is the very !
essence Of republican government
and constitutes the main element of
the superiority Of this form Of gov
eminent over any other. Democracy
has never failed to announce It's IN
fllnching opposition to sumptuary
legislation. 1t could not, for indi-
yidual freedom is the elementary es-
sence of democracy. Webster de
fines sumptuary laws to be "such as
restrain 9or limit the expenses of
citizens in apparel, food, furniture,
or the like" 1t is the public inter-
ference with individual freedom to
eat, drink and wear whatsoever
pleases the individual. There is
but one limitation: the individual
cannot be free to exercise his rights
when in SO doing he impinges upon
the rights Of another. The other
has rights also which are as much
entitled to free exercise and pTOtec-
ton as his. The question resolves
itself into about this: every free
man is the sole proprietor of him
self, so far as his personal conduct
and habits and tastes are concerned,
SO long as he does not conflict with
nor impinge upon the rights, habits
and tastes Of another. That is the
democratic idea-perfect individual
freedom so long as its exercise does
not interfere with the individual
freedom of another.
1t is by such sound reasoning as
this that many democrats oppose
prohibition, and now we propose to
show tina; this principle does not
apply in this case. The amendment
does not attempt to say that any
man shall or shall rot drink liquor.
# ii did that, it would fall under
the ban of this sound democratic
principle and should be incontinent
y defeated. 1t says no man shall
manufacture nor sell it as q bever-
age. When a man manufactures OF
oSlio IL uC 10 LII d OuoiuCSS Gu1G al
fects sothers besides himself and
the law rightfully assumes to lay
down rules to govern men in their
relations with the public. The man
when he makes or sells it steps out
side the limits OF his own tastes and
habits and impinges upon the tastes
and habits Of others. Not only So
but he ministers to discord and
confusion and brings damage to so
ciety, and the constitution gives tC
the Legislature the right to police
the state and preserve order, keeE
down confusion and protect people
from damage. The maker and sell
er is stopped therefore because he
is interfering with some one else's
rights. Is not that right? Can mer
claim the right to be individually
free and not accord the same RICH
to others?
| The conclusion is inevitable tina
the democratic principle of opposi-
ton to sumptuary laws does not ap
ply in this case and democrats whC
| are hesitating On this ground should
investigate and weigh these
thoughts carefully i6c!fnre they fol
low off after false idea thai may
engender untold misery upon some
of their fellow men.
This principle of individual free
dom is invoked in aid of manufac
turers of whisky who are themselvei
this very day concocting and per
fecting an organized monopoly o
the distilling business on gigantic
scheme. A few rich men have Or
ganized pool and they are goins
to force all the distiIlers to go int
it by the methods so familiar f
those who have felt the power Of tbs
Standard Oil monopoly. They car
nothing for the individual freedom
Of each other, nor for their freedom
to engage in a lawful business, bu
they are preparing and will unmer
cifulIy and cruelty crowd out tn
small stills and absorb and monop
olize all the business at Peoria, III
The plans are all published an
this is no canard. Isr't it ridicu-
lous, therefore, that this sacret
principle should be invoked to pro
tect men who themselves are in tn
very act of committing the mos
atrocious form of tyranny over til
business rights of their fellows
They say to the small distiller;
; You shall join our pool or We
run you out of the business" an
they will do it too, and the sma
distillers dare not and will nc
, | fight them. They trample upo
tile rights of other men and erect
monopoly, and then turn and as
the people not to modest them be
cause it is not right to trample o
other mems rights.
? We believe that herein lies til
principal opposition to the amend
: ment and we call upon prohibitio
+ orators to turn their attention t
this point. If it is defeated it wi
be by the men vino believe that
is sumptuary legislation aud tht
democracy opposes it.
If this reasoning is not sound W
should like to have it pointed oil
D and these columns are open for tn;
purpose.